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W. A. HORRALL.

MAIL BAG FASTBNBR. t No. 435,895. Patented Sept. 2, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. IIORRALL, OF WTASIIINGTON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF TIVO TIIIRDSTO JOHN C. BILLHEIMER AND FRANCIS M. MYERS, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

MAI L-BAG FASTENR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,895, datedSeptember 2, 1890. Application filed .Tune 23, 1890. Serial No. 356,359.(No model) T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. HoRRALL, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of lVashington, in the county of Daviess and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-BagFast-eners; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification.

struction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, andspecifically pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of amail-bag fastener constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is acentral sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view.

In the said drawings, the reference-nw nieral 1 designates a metal plateprovided at its sides with upturned flanges 2, and at one end withapertures 3 for the passage of the drawing-cords 4C. At its opposite endthe plate is provided with a central upwardlyextending projection 5tokeep the cords separated, and also has at each side a lug (i, whichforms the bearings for the journals 7 of a plate 8, which tits betweenthe flanges 2 of plate l. ',lhis pivoted plate S is somewhat shorterthan plate l, and has at its free end two downwardly-depending flanges9, which are designed to embrace the fianges 2. It is also provided withtwo apertures ll for the passage of the drawing-cord. About midway ofits length this plate is provided with one or more transverse ribs 10,(two being illustrated in the drawings,) and the plate l is providedwith a corresponding rib 12, so that when the two plates are broughttogether the drawing-cords will be gripped and held by these ribs I0 and12. It is not necessary that both the plates l and S be provided withthese ribs, (although it is the preferable construction,) as said ribsmay be dispensed with on one of the plates.

The operation is as follows: The drawingcords from a mail-bag are passedthrough the apertures 3 in plate l from underneath. They are thencarried up over the free end of the plate 8 and passed through theapertures ll. Thence they pass between the plates l and S and out at theopposite or pivoted end thereof. To close the mouth of the bag andsecurely hold the drawing-cords,the fastener is grasped with one handand the free ends of the drawing-cords with the other. The fastener isnow slid along the cords while they are being pulled until the edges ofthe mouth of the bag are brought close together. The fastener isprevented from any backward movement by means of the ribs on the plates,which grasp and hold the cords. It will be obvious that the greater thestrain on the cords the tighter they will be held, as the strain causesthe free end of plate S to be depressed, thus bringing the ribs intocloser or firmer contact with the cords. Then it is desired to releasethe cords from the fastener, it is simply necessary to raise the plate8, which will free the cords from the ribs and allow the bag to beopened.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is* In a inail-bagfastener, the combination, with the plate l, having upturned flanges 2at the sides, apertures 3 at one end, a central upwardly-extendingprojection 5, lugs (i and journal 7 at the opposite end, and anintermediate rib l2, of the plate S, pivoted at one end to plate 1 andhaving apertures ll at its free end, and ribs 10 intermediate of itsends, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaffixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. HORRALL.

Witnesses:

JAMES W. OGDoN, MILTON S. HAsTINGs.

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